Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Friday, 4 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 February 2005. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Monday, 21 February 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will submit a declaration to the United Nations Security Council, in pursuance of Paragraph 23 of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991) of 8th April 1991, formally to end sanctions against Iraq.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will submit a declaration to the United Nations Security Council, in pursuance of Paragraph 23 of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991) of 8 April 1991, formally to end sanctions against Iraq. [215502] Mr. Rammell: Comprehensive sanctions against Iraq, as imposed by UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 661 (6 August 1990) and amended by subsequent relevant resolutions, were lifted by UNSCR 1483 (22 May 2003). However, the Security Council has continued to judge the situation in Iraq a threat to international peace and security. UNSCR 1483, passed in 2003, retained an arms embargo, with certain exemptions; imposed a freeze on assets outside Iraq of the former Iraqi regime and certain associates, and an obligation on member states to transfer these funds to the Development Fund for Iraq; and prohibited trade in stolen Iraqi cultural property.

Secondary information